Automatic window fastener



y 1932- w. M. SPINDLER 1,858,345

AUTOMATIC WINDOW FASTENER Filed Jan. 18, 19-30 2 SheGtS-ShGGt 1' I M RTL km A TTORNEYS.

, y 1932- w. M. SPINDLER ,85

AUTOMATIC WINDOW FASTENER Filed Jan. 18, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

A TTORNEYSQ til Patented May 17, 1932 WILLIAIVI M. SPINDLER, OF NEWORLEANS, LOUISIANA AUTOMATIC WINDOW .FASTENER Application filed J'anuary18, 1930. Serial No. 421,838.

This invention relates to window fasteners or latches and has specialreference to an automatic or self latching window latch adapted for usein connection with sliding sash.

One important object of the invention is to provide an improved generalconstruction of latches of this class.

A second important object of the invention is to provide an improvedlatch of this description so arranged that the act of closing the windowwill effect latching of the same so that one cannot, without deliberateintention, leave the window unlatched when closing the same.

A third important object of the invention is to provide, in connectionwith such a latch novel means whereby the latch may, if desired, berendered inoperative as to securing the window when it is closed.

WVith the above and other objects in view, as will be presentlyapparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate likeparts in the several views, and

Figure l is an elevation, from the inside, of a window frame and itssashes and showing the application of the device thereto.

Figure 2 is a greatly enlarged section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2 but showing one side of the latchhousing removed to disclose the working parts, the de vice being shownin latching position.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but with the parts in releasedposition.

Figure 5 is a detail section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 and showing thelatch in plan.

Figure 6 is a face view of the keeper and latch actuating dog carriedthereby, the dog being in position to cause engagement of the latchproper with the keeper.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but with the dog thrown intoinoperative position for releasing the latch from thekeeper' if'thewindow be closed and for preventing latching of the window upon closingif the window be open.

Figure 8'is a face view of the latch housing from the'outer side of thesame.

Figure 9 is a section through the latch housing of a modifiedform of thedevice and showing the working parts in elevation.

Figure 10 is a View similar to Figure 9 but showing a secondmodification.

Figure 11 is an elevation of the rear end of the modification shown inFigure 10.

In the embodiments of the invent-ion herein disclosed it will be seenthat the device is shown as appliedto an ordinary type of window havinga frame 10 having the usual sliding sashes 11. The upper sash has theside stiles 12 and the bottom or meeting rail 13, the lower sashbeingsimilarly provided with side stiles 11 and a top or meeting rail 15.

The device itself consists of two parts, a latch and its housing and akeeper and its dog. The keeper consists of a base plate 16 which isgained into one of the stiles 12 adjacent the meeting rail 13 and isthere secured by the screws 17.

Projecting inwardly of the window from the lower part of this base is alug 18 provided on its under side with a channel 19 and this lugconstitutes the part of the keeper that is engaged by thelatch proper inlatching position. The upper edge of this lug is undercut, as shown inFigures 2, 3 and 4, to receive the bevelled under edge of a dog 20secured by a pivot 21 at one of its lower corners to the base 16. Thisdognormally lies transversely of the base as shown in Figure 6 but itmay be raised to the osition shown in Figure 7, the free edge 0 the dogbeing corrugated so as to afford ready engagement by the thumb of theoperator as may be seen at 22. Also, the dog is provided near the pivotwith a stop lug 23 so that when the dog is in raised position this lug23 will engage against the side of the lug 18 and thus ment of the dogin one direction, the lug 18 also limiting movement of the dog in theopposite direction. The purpose of the dog be- .ing swingingly mountedin this manner will be presently explained.

limit move- 9 of the lower sash by the screws 26. Proecting outwardlyfrom the upper part of this housing in the direction of the upper sashis a plunger 27 having a bevelled nose28, the bevel being on the underside of the nose. This plunger has a stem 29 which slides through theback .wall of the housing and is surrounded by a coiled compressionspring 30 by which the plunger is urgedoutwardly.

Depending from this plunger is a lug .31 having a notch 32 extendingupwardlyfrom its lower edge. In the form of theinvention shown inFigures3 and 4 this notch receives the upper end of a lever 33 mountedintermediate it-s ends on a pivot 34 secured in the sides of thehousing. The lower end of this lever is extended forwardly to projectout of an opening in the front wall of the housing so that when thusprojected it mayengage under the lug..18 and enter-the channel 19. Inthe form of the invention shown in Figure 9 the notch 32 receives theupper end of a lever 35 pivoted on a pin 36 and having its lower endengaging in a notch 37 formed in the upper face of a sliding hook'38which slides in and out of a suitable opening in the front wall of thehousing, the rear end of this hook sliding through a partition 39 fixedwithin the housing. The forward end of this hook 38, like the lower hookend ofthe lever 38, engages in the channel 19 when projected forwardly.

In each of these modifications the arrangement is such that whenever theplunger 27 is protracted the hook is retracted and cannot engage thekeeper to latch the window. WVhen, however, the plunger is forced backagainst the action of the springthe hook will be protracted and willthus be in latching position. The dog 20 is the element of the"mechanism which efiectsthis forcing of the plunger inwardly since, whenthe dog is turned down as in Figure 6, the bevel nose of the plungerengages the dog as the window is moved to closed position, thisengagement taking place just before the hookis in position to engagebeneath the lug 18. Thus, as the window is closed the hook is forcedoutwardly and engages the keeper thus automatically latching the window-WVhen it is desired to open the windowthe dog is thrown up to thepositionofFigure T whereupon the plunger is protracted by the spring andthe hook is retracted. If it be desired to close the window withoutlatching it, it is merely necessary to raise the dog before closing thewindow so. that the plunger will remain protracted and the hookretracted even if the window is closed.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 10 and 11 there isprovided a housing 40 similar to the housings previously described andhaving a plunger 41 mounted to slide through the front and rear walls.The forward end of this plunger is squared and provided with a bevellednose 42 and a coiled spring 43 urges the plunger into keeper engagingposition. A lug 44 projects downwardly from the squared portion of theplunger to engage the upper forked end 45 of a hook member 46 pivot-edwithin the easing as at 47. A button 48 is formed on the rear end ofthis plunger and a locking arm 49 is-pivoted to the rear face of thehousing 40 as at 50 so that it may swing between the free position shownin full lines in Figure 11 and the locking position. By this-means, theoperation being otherwise the same as in the other forms, the plungermay be held from protraction so that the hook cannot disengage from thekeeper and thus the window cannot be raised by a person outside thehouse. It will be noted from Figure 11 that the safety arm automaticallyengages loeneath the button upon the plunger being retracted, the lowerend of the arm being Weighted for this purpose.

There has .thus been provided a simple and eflicient device of the kinddescribed and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that many minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of the invention without departing from the materialprinciples thereof. It is not therefore desired to confinethe inventionto the exact form herein shown and described but it is desired toinclude all such as properly come within the scope of the claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

.1 ,A window fastener including a keeper and'a latch respectivelyadapted to be secured to parts of a window movable toward and from eachother to closeand open the Window, said latch including a housing, a

latch hook mounted in the housing for protraction therefrom intolatchingengagement with the keeper, a plunger normally pro-- tracted from saidhousing and having a bevelled nose engaging the keeper upon closing thewindow to retract the plunger, and ops erative connection between thelatch hook and plunger to protract the hook as the plunger is retracted.

2. A window fastener including a keeper and a latch respectively adaptedto be secured to parts ofna window movable toward and from each other toclose and open the window, said latch including a housing, a latch hookmounted in the housing for protraction therefrom int-o latchingengagement with the keeper, a plunger normally. protracted from saidhousing and having a bevelled nose engaging the keeper upon closing thewindow to retract the plunger, operative connectimi betweenthelatch hookand plunger tOiPJQ-Of tract the hook as the plunger is retracted, and aspring urging said plunger to protracted position.

3. A window fastener including a keeper and a latch respectively adaptedto be secured to parts of a window movable toward and from each other toclose and open the window, said latch including a latch hook movableinto and out of latching engagement with O the keeper, and meansengageable with the keeper upon closing of the window to lllOVo thelatch hook into said engagement, said keeper including a member movablemanually into and out of the path of said means to actuate the meanswhen in the path thereof.

4. A window fastener including a keeper and a latch respectively adaptedto be secured to parts of a window movable toward and from each other toclose and open the window, said latch including a latch hook movableinto and out of latching engagement with the keeper, means engageablewith the keeper upon closing of the window to move the latch hook intosaid engagement, and a spring urging the latch book out of engagementwith said keeper, said keeper including a member movable manually intoand out of the path of said means to actuate the means when in the paththereof.

0 5. A window fastener including a keeper and a latch respectivelyadapted to be secured to parts of a window movable toward and from eachother to close and open the window, said latch including a housing, alatch 5 hook mounted in the housing for protraction therefrom intolatching engagement with the keeper, a plunger normally protracted fromsaid housing and having a bevelled nose engaging the keeper upon closingthe window to retract the plunger, and operative connection between thelatch hook and plunger to protract the hook as the plunger is retracted,said keeper including a member movable manually into and out of the pathof said plunger to actuate the plunger when in the path thereof.

6. A window fastener including a keeper and a latch respectively adaptedto be secured to parts of a window movable toward and from each other toclose and open the window, said latch including a housing, a latch hookmounted in the housing for protraction therefrom into latchingengagement with the keeper, a plunger normally protracted from saidhousing and having a bevelled nose engaging the keeper upon closing thewindow to retract the plunger, operative connection between the latchhook and plunger to pro tract the hook as the plunger is retracted, anda spring urging said plunger to protracted position, said keeperincluding a member movable manually into and out of the path of saidplunger to actuate the plunger when in the path thereof.

5 7. A window fastener including a keeper and a-latch respectivelyadapted to be securedto parts of a window movable toward and fromeach'otherto close and open the window, said latch including a latchhook movable into and out of latching engagement with the keeper, aplungerengageable with the keeper upon closing of the window to move thelatch hook into said engagement, and a manually releasable stop engagingthe plunger upon retraction thereof to hold the same againstprotraction.

8. A window fastener including a keeper and a latch respectively adaptedto be secured to parts of a window movable toward and from each other toclose and open the window, said latch including a latch hook movableinto and out of latching engage ment with the keeper, means engageablewith the keeper upon closing of the window to move the latch hook intosaid engagement, and a stop for holding the hook in keeper engagingposition, said stop being positioned for manual release.

9. A window fastener including a keeper and a latch respectively adaptedto be secured to parts of a window movable toward and from each other toclose and open the window, said latch including a latch hook movableinto and out of latching engagement with the keeper, a plungerengageable with the keeper upon closing of the window to move the latchhook into said engagement, a spring urging the latch hook out ofengagement with said keeper, and a manually releasable stop engaging theplunger upon retraction thereof to hold the same against protraction.

10. A window fastener including a keeper and a latch respectivelyadapted to be secured to parts of a window movable toward and from eachother to close and open the window, said latch including a housing, alatch hook mounted in the housing for protraction therefrom intolatching engagement with the keeper, a plunger engageable with thekeeper upon closing of the window to protract the latch hook, saidkeeper including a member movable manually into and out of the path ofsaid means to actuate the means when in the path thereof, and a manuallyreleasable stop engaging the plunger upon retraction thereof to hold thesame against protraction.

11. A window fastener including a keeper and a latch respectivelyadapted to be secured to theupper and lower sash of a window havingsliding sash, said latch including a housing having a plunger mounted inits upper part provided with a normally protracted nose positioned toengage the keeper upon closing movement of the window and held inretracted position by the keeper when the window is closed, a latch hookin the lower part of the housing in normal retracted 4 .mamw

position "and engggeable beneath the-keeper when protracted, and an"operative connection between the latch hook ma 1 plunger :to protractthe hook .115 the plunger moves to retracted'position.

In testimony whereofI-aflix my signature.

XVILLIAM M. SBINDLER.

